Fazl elected as JUI-F central ameer

PESHAWAR: Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Ghafoor Haidri were elected on Monday as central ameer and general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) (JUI-F), respectively, during party elections for next three years. Maulana Fazlur Rehman returned unopposed after senior party leaders convinced Maulana Muhammad Khan Shirani from Balochistan to step down from the elections to the position of central ameer.However, Ghafoor Haidri won the election by 393 votes against Maulana Mufti Kifayat’s 93 votes, the provincial party spokesman of the party Haji Jalil Jan told Daily Times.He said, “The elections went smoothly and party members were free to contest election for any seat, including the position of central ameer, brushing off impression that ‘a rebel group’ within the party emerged to challenge the Maulana for ‘single family’ dominance.”“Maulana Shirani was adamant to challenge Maulana Fazlur Rehman till the last minute. However, senior leaders prevailed making him withdraw his candidature in favour of the party leader,” sources in the JUI-F told Daily Times wishing not to be named. The sources said that Maulana Shirani was assured to get “a respected government position” once he allowed Maulana Fazlur Rehman win elections unopposed. Maulana Shirani is currently heading Islamic Ideology Council, a constitutional body.Earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rehman told the media that Tahirul Qadri was out “to damage” democracy. “Whatever Qadri is doing is undemocratic and what his moves can bring is harm to democracy,” he went on to lash out at the Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader who wanted to lead “revolution” in Pakistan.“Our party will not support an illegal move (military takeover),” he made it clear, adding that unnatural politics was prevalent currently. “The current federal government is democratically elected.” The JUI-F leader said.